Hi all. New member and new owner of a 2005 Suburban LT 4x4 with 102k miles. I've been lurking on the forums for a few weeks pre and post purchase to know what to look out for and learn more about the new family hauler. Here's my current issue...

All the tires were a few pounds low so I went to inflate them. The fronts inflated fine but the rears will not take air at all. I can let air out just fine and now down to about 25lbs in each rear tire. This is my first vehicle with tire pressure sensors but I wouldn't think adding air would be different than a standard valve stem. My first thought was to remove/replace the valve stem core but my valve stems are aluminum and do not have a core that I can unscrew (from what I can tell). I called a tire shop and they told me it could be corrosion that i need to replace the sensors for $75 a pop. He said I could shoot some WD40 to loosen them up which I tried and this did not help. I've Googled and search this forum and a few others to no avail.

Do I need new valve stems and/or tire pressure sensors? Is this something I can sort out myself? I don't have tools to take the tire off the rim.

Thanks.

 

the valve stem core screws in like any other valve stem. the core on aluminum valve stems are nickel to prevent corrosion.


the top of the aluminum stems do corroded and break off. gm is no longer using this style and if you have to replace them use the updated style that use a rubber valve stems.


are the threaded ends of the valve stem broken off?

 

Thanks for the response tech2. Here is a picture of the rear valve stem and then the second picture is of the front. Both rears look the same and the fronts looks the same. The front stems have the shoulders so you can use a valve core tool and unscrew them. The rears do not and I tried unscrewing with a small pair of needle nose pliers which didn't remove the valve core. Maybe this is the part that has broken off preventing the valve core from being removed?


Picture of front and rear valve stems

 

ymagness: welcome to the forum. Check eBay for TPMS sensors. Lot cheaper.

The sensors can be replaced without removing the tire completely by just breaking the bead adjacent to the sensor. This way you do not have to rebalance the tire.

Not sure why you can't remove the valve stem core. Are you using a removal tool?

 

I am using a removal tool and both back wheels the valve stems do not have the "shoulders" that would allow the tool to grab the valve stem core. I think I am heading towards having to replace at least the TPMS sensors in the rear for now. I don't see any other way to repair the valve and/or inflate my tires the rest of the way.

 

Since you can let air out of the tire, I'm wondering if maybe your inflator nozzle is not depressing the valve stem far enough to allow it to add air.

 

Thanks for the input. I went by a tireshop today and they were able to put air on it. So either my 100 psi compressor wasn't enough or more likely like you mentioned my attachment wasn't pushing the valve in. It's clearly different than the front valve so maybe the depth is slightly different as well.

Thanks again for all the help.